Newsletter February 2025

Dear Friends,

We dedicate this newsletter to the concept of pluralism — the idea that multiple distinct groups, beliefs, cultures, or values can coexist within a community. At its core, pluralism enshrines diversity of ideas because it enables social and political systems to thrive because they must collaborate to coexist. 

The challenge remains… in our current political state, how do we move from deep political polarization and social media echo chambers that foster tension stemmed from economic inequality? How can we break out of identity politics and refocus on productive, mutually beneficial ideas? It can seem intractable, but we have a suggestion: 

Imagine if we could have more structured conversations where diverse groups, perspectives, and identities can engage with one another in constructive ways. Where we could talk and generously listen to each other, which would enable greater understanding, increase trust, and ultimately work towards solving problems together. This is one step, but wouldn’t it be in the right direction? 

We see a pathway towards using collective dialogue systems to enable such conversations. Technology is not the answer, but it is a tool to help us move forward to build common ground. In this newsletter, we highlight events and efforts focused on creating inclusive spaces for diverse ideas using AI. Also, we also offer an explainer on how CrowdSmart’s collective dialogue system works to foster diversity of thought. 

As always, we are open to questions and ideas on how to advance our mission of community problem solving by leveraging digital technology. Write to us at info@commongoodai.org.

All the best,

Victoria Stanski, Managing Director

With Founders, John Seely Brown, John Clippinger, John Cordier, Tom Kehler, and Kim Polese